Canadian Cattle Association urges Ottawa to protect Canadian beef in Mercosur negotiations

The Canadian Cattle Association is urging the federal government to reject any expansion of beef market access in a potential trade agreement with Mercosur countries, warning it could place additional pressure on Canadian producers and create new trade concerns ahead of the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Canadian and Mercosur negotiators are meeting in Toronto this week for a critical round of trade talks, with the CCA working directly with Canada’s negotiating team to advocate for Canadian beef producers.

“Canadian beef producers support fair, science-based trade, and at the same time, Canadian beef cannot become a bargaining chip.”

Tyler Fulton, President, Canadian Cattle Association

“Canada already imports more beef, proportionally, than almost any major beef-producing country in the world. Expanding access for Mercosur beef would undermine Canadian producers at a critical time for our industry.”

Fulton said Canadian farmers and ranchers operate under some of the highest standards globally for animal care, food safety, sustainability, and labour.

“Our producers should not be economically penalized for maintaining high standards while competing against jurisdictions with significantly lower production costs driven by weaker standards,” he said.

According to the CCA, Canadian beef imports reached their highest level since 1993 in 2025, accounting for approximately 30 per cent of domestic consumption. The organization also noted imports from Mercosur countries have increased by 238 per cent since 2021.

The CCA warned that further expansion of imports could discourage herd rebuilding in Canada and increase reliance on imported beef as producers continue recovering from drought, rising costs, and market instability.

Industry leaders have also raised concerns about how expanded Mercosur beef access could affect the upcoming review of CUSMA.

“We at the CCA are also concerned about the broader impact this could have ahead of the CUSMA review,” added Fulton. “The United States remains Canada’s most important beef trading partner, and the federal government should be focused on strengthening North American trade relationships, not creating friction or concerns around backdoor access into the North American market.”

While supportive of trade diversification efforts, the CCA said any agreement must deliver meaningful benefits for Canadian producers while protecting the long-term viability of Canada’s domestic beef sector.

As negotiations continue in Toronto this week, the Canadian Cattle Association is urging negotiators to reject any deal that could compromise the future of Canada’s beef industry and rural communities.

View the Canadian Cattle Association news release on the CCA website.